When we began the building process, we sat down with a little piece of paper and started sketching what we wanted...and it all centered around our kitchen.

We wanted the kitchen really open and in the center of the house. We wanted it to be the spot where people gathered.

This is our fridge hiding behind those heavy doors.

On either side of my farmhouse sink is a dishwasher.

This is our favorite part of the kitchen (and maybe even my favorite part of the house). We sit up here, the kids play up here, every morning, I read my Bible and have breakfast up here, I can use this space for serving platters during parties, people can sit right there and chat with us while we're cooking... it's just a great place right by the big windows looking out.

Right off of the coffee bar area is our little prep kitchen area. This little area (often called a butler's pantry) is between the kitchen and dining room and holds an extra sink, mini fridge, ice maker and all of our china, seasonal dishes and serving pieces.

The other side of the little prep kitchen area.

And then, it wouldn't be a tour of my kitchen without peeking inside my pantry too...

This is looking in with the door open. My walls are a blue-grey color and my counters are black granite. I had my friend Amy make me a piece of subway art with my favorite dessert recipes on it and I have a step stool for reaching some higher shelves.

On one side of the pantry, I have our food items.

These are my baking ingredients...

...and putting chalkboard stickers on jars is about as crafty as I get :).

On the other side of the kitchen, I have cabinets and drawers underneath the counter for storage and then our most used appliances sit on the counter (with the exception of my Keurig...it sits out in the kitchen in my coffee bar area).

I keep our every day dishes and serving pieces in the upper cabinets.

So, there you have it. My very favorite room in the house! This is where we live :).

Monday, March 2, 2015

I'm a huge fan of fall and winter...but truth be told, I'm always a little excited to see March arrive because spring is pretty darn great too.

Today is Pin-spired with Mel, Sheaffer and Me (and so many of you who link up!). We take a Pinterest inspired style idea and apply it for the month ahead. This March, I'm thinking about denim. Not this kind of denim...

This kind of denim...

This is why I love Pin-spired so much...because if you had told me to wear denim on denim, I would have said no way in the world. However, when I find these images on Pinterest, it makes it seem very attainable. This also seemed like the perfect "March" outfit. Not too many heavy layers, a "light" feel but not too spring-y (because it is technically still winter!).

I took my denim on denim challenge and here are the results...

Not too shabby, right? Thank you Pinterest for your plethora of ideas :).

My shirt is super soft and came from Loft (I'm wearing a small). Right now, they're out of certain sizes in this shirt, so here are a few similar ones for you if your size isn't available...

Friday, February 27, 2015

Since my kiddos missed school on Monday and Tuesday due to ice, I feel like today is Wednesday...I've been confused all week. Thankfully, it's not Wednesday and it truly is Friday!

My favorite part from Tuesday's "Shay's Favorite Beauty Product" post? Reading your comments!! You ladies offer up the BEST suggestions! I have already purchased one product that was recommended to me once via a comment and twice via email on Tuesday...Kiehl's Deeply Repairative Hair Mask. After the third person suggested it, I went online and read the reviews and decided to give it a try. I'll let you know what I think. With summer coming up, this mama is going to need a good hair mask to help with all of the sun and chlorine my poor head is about to see.

This week, a sweet reader named Kristen emailed me and told me to watch this Josh Kelley video on YouTube about he and wife Katherine Heigl's daughter Naleigh Moon. Oh heavens! Lots of tears were shed when I watched this videofor the first time. This is the sweetest song and video about their adoption. This made me a big Josh Kelley fan...such a sweet video :).

I don't know about you...but I stayed up way past my bedtime on Sunday watching the Oscars. My favorite part...

...Lady Gaga singing a Sound of Music medley.

Who would have thought those 8 words would ever come out of my mouth?

It was brilliant. Whoever had that idea should get a raise. Brilliant.

Two weeks ago, I was told by my doctor that I needed a mammogram...since I'm only 33, this was a first for me. After my doctor reviewed my first mammogram, I was told to go back for another one. After the second mammogram, I had to have a sonogram. Fun times.

Thankfully, everything is okay. The doctor said she's confident it's nothing (but I'll go back in six months for another mammogram just to be 100% sure). I wasn't really planning on blogging about this, but then Erika said it was a good PSA for me to encourage my friends online to get their girls checked too (if you're the right age and your doctor recommends it).

Going into my first mammogram, I was under the impression that it would hurt like none other but honestly, it was no big deal. If you have been putting off a mammogram, consider this my encouragement to get one. We have to take care of each other :).

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